Thermostats

Smart thermostats can be awesome to have depending on the features you want. I may go into more detail at some point, but I don’t think you can go wrong with Ecobee.

A note: I consider “smart” schedules useless. If your schedule is so predictable that the thermostat can learn it, then you can program it in in 5 minutes. I like to have control over what my systems are doing, not be at the whim of some company’s black box algorithms.

Brand reviews

Ecobee

Pros:

  • Cloud control has good value add
  • Works with lots of different HVAC setups, such as boilers, heat pumps, etc.
  • Homekit support allows for control if internet is down
  • Adds an Alexa or Siri control point in the house
  • Discounts and rebates often available through your electricity provider
  • Plenty of metrics you can export
  • Great customer support
  • Remote sensors to adjust temp based on the rooms you use instead of where the thermostat is
  • very easy to setup and program
  • the mobile and web app experiences are great
  • DIY Developer friendly

Cons:

  • Their “Premium” thermostat’s air quality control is not reliable at all
  • Getting more expensive these days
  • Built-in speaker’s audio quality is garbage

Something?:

  • Their Premium thermostat shows up as an airplay speaker. I did a zoom call over it because why not.

Nest

Pros:

  • Nice design
  • Discounts often available through your electricity provider

Cons:

  • Owned by Google (I don’t like Google’s practices. See voice control page for reasons)
  • Have been slowly locking DIY developers out

I can’t remember if they provide metrics or not. It has been 2 years since I owned one.

3M/Radio Thermostat CT50

Pros:

  • no internet connection required
  • has a full fledged, documented, rest API available

Cons:

  • ugly
  • poor to no customer support
  • not a great UI or UX

This was my first thermostat back in 2011. At the time, nothing beat it and the rest API was awesome. If I needed to pick a thermostat that would work with no internet connectivity, I would probably still consider this.

Honeywell

Cons:

  • Ugly thermostats
  • Programming menu requires a manual to make sense of the codes
  • Poor app experience
  • no metrics

I see recommendations for HoneyWell thermostats from time to time. I haven’t used the very latest so things could have changed, but taking the 4 year old one I just pulled out as my reference point, along with looking at the latest on Amazon, I can get more bang for my buck with the other options on the market.

Other brands

There are many other smart thermostats on Amazon. I’ve become an Ecobee fan and their prices, when discounted by electrical companies, are still at a price point that I see no need to go looking for something cheaper.

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